Urgh Horrid Horrid Person

mrwibble

user55 wrote: »

I've got to say, don't know if they come under the same category, but the guys who came to repossess my car treated me with so much politeness and respect that they brought a lump to my throat! We had just got back from a camping trip so the car was fully loaded, and they offered to help me with that. And when I commented it would have been easier if they had rung first so it was sorted ready for them, they called the finance company a bunch of !!!!!!! They also told me not to worry about getting the rubbish out, as it was just going straight to the auction, and when it was done, they shook my hand and wished me well for the future. So not what I expected!

Well I'm sure they know its the easiest way - treat people with respect and politeness and 95% of the time they will reciprocate ! I'm sure they see more than their fair share of "scream - no you are not taking it - I'm going to hit you if you do!!!"

Incidentally if you are happy with the car and need to keep running it (and its not too expensive) then it might be worthwhile finding out which auction its going to be at - obviously do your research and dont bid more than trade (see parkers). It might be a cheap way of keeping on the road with a known reliable car at auction prices. I've picked up a 52 plate Citroen C5 diesel estate with MoT for under £1500 in the last 6 months for a relation - going strong. Obviously if its unaffordable (new BMW / Merc / Rolls-Royce) or you hate it / want to walk / a smoking nail then ignore advice please !!!

Good luck anyway

rog2

user55 wrote: »

I've got to say, don't know if they come under the same category, but the guys who came to repossess my car treated me with so much politeness and respect that they brought a lump to my throat! We had just got back from a camping trip so the car was fully loaded, and they offered to help me with that. And when I commented it would have been easier if they had rung first so it was sorted ready for them, they called the finance company a bunch of !!!!!!! They also told me not to worry about getting the rubbish out, as it was just going straight to the auction, and when it was done, they shook my hand and wished me well for the future. So not what I expected!

Your post proves, user, that a half decent attitude will get results that are acceptable to both parties, whereas the attitued encountered by many, and even advocated by some, serves merely to exacerbate an already delicate situation and produces negative results all round.

mrwibble

rog2 wrote: »

That is No Excuse Whatsoever.

Everybody has an absolute right to be treated with courtesy and respect, no matter what their circumstances.

The biggest problem with debt collectors, and their ilk, is that they are 'pre-programmed' to assume that everyone they approach is a 'liar' who wishes only to 'avoid their debt'.

The telephone caller, from the debt collection agency or call-centre, is usually only quoting information which is on a computer screen, along with his/her scripted questions. That caller will, almost inevitably, blindly accept the details on his/her computer screen over the words of the person he/she is calling.

Every answer that a caller gives is compared to a 'list' of possible/acceptable answers - when an 'answer' doesn't match the question is simply repeated, usually at higher decibels, until the caller hears what he/she wants to hear.

Of course, there will always be people who do wish to avoid their debts, but in the interests of fairness Everybody deserves a fair hearing, and should always be given the benefit of the doubt.

People who work for Debt Collection Agencies do NOT have any right of judgement - that is reserved for the courts - and should always treat the people that they need to talk to with the same level of respect that they, themselves, would wish to receive.

If these people are unable to treat people with basic common courtesy and if they continue to 'dismiss' as lies everything that a 'debtor' tells them, without first checking all facts, then they are in 'the Wrong Job' and should NOT be allowed to have any verbal contact with the public.

The same goes, in my opinion, to anybody working in the Public Sector who has to have direct contact with the public, for example in Housing and Council Tax Benefit.

Yes - respect / politeness / etc but its too easy to become jaded working in those sorts of environments - maybe quitting is the answer but in the specific example given of having evidence of cheating then really the only answer is "sorry - you'll have your day in court" - the use of emotional language is not helpful but in that specific situation its difficult to give them the benefit of the doubt isn't it ? I work with the Police frequently as a supplier of communication services and they are lied to and assaulted on a daily basis yet still maintain (usually) their calm and professional approach - obviously some (well quite a few actually) regard most of their clientele as "thieving, lying scroats" but they leave the judgement to the courts based on the evidence - they know one day they'll get the "frequent fliers". I also deal with many ex-coppers and they all find it difficult after leaving to adjust to not regarding non-colleagues as potentially lying through their teeth.

As for "dismissing as lies" well they are not held to the same standards as the Police and don't have the same ethics so can behave like that - after all if you are lying to them you might "fess up and pay up" and if you are not lying then you might break down and pay up to "make the nasty man go away". Its all just a game - a polite "pretty please pay" won't butter their parsnips - the sort of person who does well in these games to keep the wolf from the door won't batter an eyelid at accusing the debtor. They are trained to regard the debtor as a liar and keep battering down at them - its all a fun game to them - very similar to the techniques used to train Inland Revenue investigators (though obviously they can't lie / constantly call you !).

Rant mode on

There are people in this world who will do anything they are told to do - whether its debt-collecting or genocide - what sets us apart from them is our personal ethics and our ability to stand up and stop them before it gets nasty - whether its a malicious debt-collector phoning or someone pointing long metal fire-sticks at you and yours.

Rant mode off

Don't let the b**ers get away with it !

rog2

mrwibble wrote: »

As for "dismissing as lies" well they are not held to the same standards as the Police and don't have the same ethics so can behave like that.
If you are not lying then you might break down and pay up to "make the nasty man go away".
Its all just a game - the sort of person who does well in these games to keep the wolf from the door won't batter an eyelid at accusing the debtor.
They are trained to regard the debtor as a liar - its all a fun game to them. Very similar to the techniques used to train Inland Revenue investigators (though obviously they can't lie / constantly call you !).

There are people in this world who will do anything they are told to do - whether its debt-collecting or genocide.

Don't disagree with you, wibble (where on earth did you get that user name )

However there are no excuses for treating people in the way that they do - it is inherent in the Human Rights Act, that people be treated with due dignity and respect, and as far back as the Nurenburg Tribunal it was established that 'blind obedience' is no excuse for the abuse or mis-treatment of others.

That said, I agree, there will ALWAYS be people who will do anything they are told - often in the pursuit of personal greed, pure sadism, low intelect or simply because they have very low personal expectations.

If they persist in treating 'debtors' as dogs, then they should not be surprised if the odd one barks, or even bites back.